essentially, most of our habits are automated. so in order to create new ones, we must form new patterns.

i’m sure we can all admit to having less than stellar habits, as well as great ones. or maybe you have ones, that you actually have no clue why or how they came to be. I definitely have a lot of those.

so I’ve decided to dive right in to 11 whole months of exploring my strongest habits. to keep it simple and focused, I’m choosing1 per month. It could be anyyyything. positive or negative. breaking the old or forming anew.

for February, I’ve picked one that is quite possibly going to be the most challenging habit for me to break. literally one that I can’t even believe I’m even putting myself to the test of conquering…

after every meal, it’s gum. when I’m bored, it’s gum. when I’m weightlifting or running really long distances, it’s gum. when I’m anxious or want to concentrate, it’s gum. when I’m not even really thinking, somehow gum has made its way into my mouth.

gum has its perks as much as it has its pitfalls (digestive issues, bloating, artificial sugars, chemicals, apparently something awful called phenylalanine, and I’m pretty sure it makes me dehydrated. I often chew a piece rather than just reaching for water…it makes your salivate).

as if that’s not enough, I read this article tonight by Food Babe and figured I could stand to step awayyy from the pack. but according to her, I should also just chew fennel seeds. great. I can see it now: post dinner, I’m all like, “hey, anyone want a fennel seed for some minty-fresh breath?” oy vey. Either that, or I’ll be the crazy one with a toothbrush on her at. all. times.

I definitely don’t believe everything I read, and I think people could find something wrong with everything these days, but I’m mostly curious to see if I’ll notice any difference without it.

so here goes nothing. an entire month sans gum. lucky for me, February is only 28 days.

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4 thoughts on ““no habit is an accident” challenge: month 1”

What an awesome idea! I have some habits I need to break (and a few I need to start), so I can relate to this mantra. My word of 2014 is “streamline” – streamline my life, my work, my priorities. I’m going to streamline all of it!

I just did the same thing! Decided to give up gum completely. Like you I consumed large quantities of the stuff. With my already sensitive stomach and the havoc gum can play on it, I decided enough was enough and I needed to try life without it. Cold turkey. While it’s still a temptation every time I’m in the check-out lines, I’ve gotta stay strong. Oh and I AM the crazy girl with the toothbrush on her all the time!